realiTEE

How to kickstart #projectcomeback

Published on October 20, 2019 by realiTEELeave a comment

Hhhheeeyyy, so I’m back after a short break and the truth is I haven’t been consistent lately because I’ve been in a weird ass FUNK. For the past couple of weeks I’ve not really felt 100% Tee, & for no apparent reason. I’ve been completely unmotivated, second guessing myself, increased self doubt and just not as much fun to be around.

Hands up if you’ve ever had a week or two like this 🙋🏼‍♀️

I hate weeks like this because I don’t feel very me and it’s probably not helped by the fact I had a sty which meant no contact lenses & no make up… while on holiday.

Fortunately for me I have two incredible people in my life that have been so great & I can officially say I’m over the funk (well we’re getting there & remaining positive).

I said there was no apparent reason to this mood dip but I do think lack of sleep and I have been a bit slack on cooking my own food lately (week leading up to my holiday I ate zero home cooked meal…)

We all know that food and exercise have a impact on your health and mood but they’re also soooo much more than that. You are what you eat and chemicals, salt and sugar is not a good combination. Part of the reason I’ve struggled so much to feel like me was partly feeling drained & partly looking drained and my skin was so dull – food plays a big part in BOTH of these aspects.

So #projectcomeback …. it’s all about finding my balance again and I’ve broken it down into 5 key areas

Sweat it out- now I’m back to studying my workouts have got to be AM which is harder for me in the winter because the lack of sunlight messes with my head. Fortunately I have a sunrise alarm to brighten up my room and tell my brain it’s morning. LETS GO GO GO…… sweating it out is a great way to get out of a funk mood because it boosts the good chemicals in your brain. I’ve been so unmotivated that when I have worked out it’s been half hearted. This morning I decided on swimming something I love and as soon as I got my swimsuit on I was buzzing to get in the pool. (All oiled up of course following the tips I talked about here)

Hydration – do I ever write a post without my favourite H word? Hydrated skin is plump and glowy!

Sleep- I really believe in a good nights sleep it’s a great way to help you reset. I wrote more about it here.

Fresh air – get outside even if it’s just for half an hour. Even on miserable days the UV rays still come through and that’s what helps you produce D3 so you’re still getting some vitamins in. I love going for a walk especially if it means exploring a new city!

GUT HEALTH

SO here’s what I really want to get talking about, but health. I’m so passionate about healthy gut as I really believe it’s the basis for glowing clear skin, strong healthy hair & nails, as well as mental clarity.

As a child I was always told to eat vegetables and fruit and all the usual healthy diet stuff. However, as a curious child when I asked why I was given old wives tales as answers.

‘Why should I eat carrots?’ You’ll be able to see in the dark- when I was watching cartoons where people could change the weather (Storm from the x-men was always my favourite because I hate the cold wet weather!) seeing in the dark didn’t seem like a super power I wanted.

Maybe it was the lack of google but no one seemed to have a real answer as to why we should do & eat certain things. We just should. Well this didn’t cut it for me & I rebelled against health advice.

Now I know that the best version of me is full of energy & completely switched on. That’s why I love eating foods that feed my gut, please do not think these are boring things at all.

Currently my favourite snack is a fruit bowl here’s what I put in and why;

BLUEBERRIES- we’ve all heard that blueberries are full of antioxidants, but why are these so important? Antioxidants shield the skin against harmful free radicals that can damage the collagen that keeps your skin firm.

RASPBERRIES- still packed with antioxidants but also come with ellagic acid which can keep the skin healthy and rejuvenate it. Our bodies have a natural UV protection built in (still use sun screen!) and raspberries actually help boost this which is a added bonus if you do a lot of outdoor activities.

ALMONDS- I love adding in some healthy fats such as almonds because they’re great for promoting clear acne free skin.

COCONUT FLAKES- coconut anything is good for us we know this, however I’m going to do a full blog post on all its different uses!

YOGURT- I add soy yogurt which has benefits of its own such as containing phytoestrogens that boost the production of estrogen in the body and help reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles. However dairy yogurt (if you eat diary) contains lactic acid, an organic compound that aids in diminishing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by tightening and shrinking pores. Just do you here….

It’s okay to not be bubbly & vibrant all the time as long as you address the cause.

Favourite beauty food?

My 5 top running tips to get you going (again)

Published on October 5, 2019 by realiTEELeave a comment

Running, it’s the marmite of cardio.

It’s also one of the easiest things to get into if you want to look to start a fitness journey. It’s a low-cost and a quick way to kick-start your fitness game and you’re free to go at your own pace- literally.

Personally I have a love hate relationship with running.

I love that I can run anywhere. I love that I can run for any amount of time. I love that I can run solo. I love that I can run with a friend. I love putting in my headphones and getting lost in an audio book or podcast.

Here’s why, it’s scientifically proven that running (a little) each day has immense long-lasting health benefits; physical AND mental! I’ve talked a few times about how important I think exercise is and running has been proven to reduce risks of all kinds of conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and it reduces anxiety!

RUNNING MAKES YOU HAPPIER

Don’t believe me, check out one of the many books about running, Eat, Drink, Run or Running like a girl. Or my personal favourite Jog On by Bella Mackie , this book was so emotional and educational I ran everyday just to spend time alone listening to it.

That brings me to another plus about running. I think we can all admit that as great as social media is it can be overwhelming and we all need a break. When you’re running (or swimming) you can’t be on your phone, it’s not possible. It’s an activity that gives you time to be you. Whether you shut yourself off to mysterious c and your own thoughts or you get lost in one of the million audio options available.

Running is you time.

Whether you’re a beginner keen to break into the running world or a marathon pro check out the below tips for staying motivated and looking after your skin all year round.

Tip 1: A new top never hurt no body

It’s an undeniable fact we all love nice new things, and when our clothes fit we want to show them off. Running can be quite self conscious especially to start with so make sure you’re comfy.

Also don’t forget the high impact bra. Honestly years ago when I decided to get fit I thought I’d try running because it’s free… I lasted 10 minutes running around my block twice VERY slowly and I had no sports bra and I was well let’s say blessed in the chest.

By the time I got home I collapsed on the sofa, the world was spinning and my cleavage was red raw and bleeding slightly where my bra had rubbed and my boobs had bounced. It took me a while to get back out there after this.

Tip 2: Start Running

Nobody’s expecting you to run a marathon next week, and if you are signed up to I’m sure you’ve been training for a while. Point is talking it slow to start and building up is natural. There are so many great apps to help you get started like coach to 5k.

If you want to start running, you need to actually start to run,

If my first run story above doesn’t help listen to jog on, each chapter is an inspiring look into how Bella Mackey built up her distance by running up and down a ally way each night.

Start easy with 10-30 seconds runs, followed by a 1-2 minute walk for the whole duration of your first run. Remember it doesn’t matter how fast you’re going or how many times you stop. You’re lapping the people sat on the sofa.

Tip 3: Your skin is suffering with you

Most people don’t think about this but I’m crazy when it comes to looking after myself and I know for a fact that running in the sun, in the wind, in the rain etc whatever the weather my skin is going to suffer. Always match your skincare to the season. In winter you’ll need thicker moisturiser to stop your skin drying out and always wash your face after.

Don’t forget the SPF… I get this is easy to forget on overcast rainy days. However UVA and UVB are still always present and if you want to keep that workout glow wrinkle free a layer of SPF each day goes a long way!

Tip 4: Fuel Your Body

Want your body to perform? Fuel it right!

Food for me is so important not only do I love getting in the kitchen but I’m always looking how I can incorporate food that’s going to benefit my body.

Sugary sweets and fizzy drinks will not give you the energy you need to get through a run, there’s no nutritional value here so you can’t expect to gain anything (apart from a couple of unwanted pounds) by eating them.

Always think vegetables and fruit. Bananas are a great pre run snack (I may sneak some peanut butter on there as well).

The most important thing your body needs from you pre and post run… water.

Tip 5: Just do you

just do you… May be some of the worlds greatest advice and applies to every situation in life.

If there’s someone over taking you, or some annoying car going slow beeping its horn while shouting at you. Yes it’s uncomfortable and no person should be subjected to that, but just keep going. Just do you. Remember your why and even on the worst days, you’ll feel better for putting on those trainers and getting out the door.

Want to see your progress? Keep a journal or use an app like Strava, it’ll will track your map give you insights into your run and you can make notes and add pictures.

I hope these simple steps help get you going or remind you of the basics that can easily be forgotten (although I’m never forgetting the spf!)

What’s your top tip for running?

Leave your comments below…

Love,

Tee

The 3 skin tips you need if you love to swim.

Published on September 29, 2019September 29, 2019 by realiTEE1 Comment

I’ve loved swimming ever since I was a little girl. It’s my favourite form of exercise and a great way to spend time on your own to recharge and just think (it can’t be just me that needs this right?). Besides that it’s a great workout for your whole body and the added bonus of low impact… which if you’re like me and your knees hate running you’ll welcome the pool. The downside to swimming is definitely the chemicals and the horrendous red itchy skin after.

I’ve tried different things over the years to try and it’s taken until now for me to find three quick and easy things that really work for me. It’s completely changed my swimming experience

EXFOLIATING!

I feel like this is just good skin care regardless. A little exfoliation goes a long way when it comes to keeping the skin soft. Grab your exfoliating mittens, loofahs or dry brushes (blog post on dry brush coming if you haven’t tried it it’s great) and get scrubbing. If you do this pre swim your body will absorb more moisture which is important for step 2…

MOISTURISER.

I’m not trying to point out the obvious here but these two things combined will change your skin dramatically. Any quality moisturiser will hydrate your skin but for years I applied this post swim. If you cover your body head to toe before you jump in the pool you’ll create a barrier between your skin and the chlorine. My absolute favourite is almond oil, I know not everyone loves oil on their skin but this creates a great thick barrier, it kind of makes the water slip off you. Almond oil is packed with vitamin E which is great for healing skin spells and supports your skins natural UV defence.

You’ll also want to go in the shower before the pool… I never understood this growing up I was just told you had to and as a result I ignored this advice. Had I know that actually your skin wants to absorb moisture as much as possible and soaking in clean water first means your skin is less likely to absorb chlorine I’d have been straight there!

SLEEP MASK.

After swimming always always always use an over night sleeping mask with high hydration properties. I love Jet Lag from Summer Fridays it drenches skin with a nourishing cocktail of vitamins, antioxidants and gently exfoliating extracts, the result… soothe, hydrated, plump glowing skin!

Extra tip use a silk pillow case as it’s less likely to absorb any product from your face.

The most important thing to remember is to use as little chemicals as possible, the more natural the better!

Want a extra boost to feed your skin from the inside out…. Get in your omega 3 and good fats like salmon and avocado and always rehydrate.

What’s your top skin care tip for swimming?

Share below and I’ll be sure to try it out.

Love

Tee

How to make sustainable fashion easy

Published on September 7, 2019September 8, 2019 by realiTEELeave a comment

Hey hey happy September I know how much everyone seems to love autumn (fall) but I’m so sad summer is officially over.

However I’m trying to focus on the positives such as the return of pumpkin spice lattes and counting down to my next holiday.

There are some really good things going on this September such as Zero Waste Week (today’s the last day) and the movement of #secondhandseptember the idea of only buying second hand clothes for a whole month if you need to buy anything at all. I’ll admit I’m that person that decides they want something and if it’s not available for delivery tomorrow (if not today) I’m like but why!?!?!? It’s only recently I’ve really started to consider my carbon footprint and the impact on the environment. Yes I’m probably a little late to the party but I’m here and making a effort.

Things like reducing waste or buying second hand clothing doesn’t sound the most glamorous way of life but it’s honestly a lot easier than you think. Little changes like buying exactly what you need and throwing away less food, or getting creative with leftover stuff – I just made a little jar of homemade coffee face scrub from the ground coffee thanks to this great coffee shop I go to, I went in late one afternoon and they gave me a cup of the used ground coffee, see little changes that didn’t even impact your usual routine.

Let’s get into what I really want to talk about; sustainable fashion!

If you haven’t heard the anything about fast fashion vs sustainable fashion in 2019 it’s time to crawl out from under that rock.

Oxfam are encouraging all of us to take a month that’s usually associated with fashion week after fashion week around the globe and the start of autumn dressing (hello scarves and jumpers) and encouraging fashion lovers to reconsider where they buy from for 30 days.

With 11 millions tons of clothes going to landfill every WEEK it’s clear we can all do a little something to help.

SHOP VINTAGE & SECONDHAND

Depop is officially my new favourite place to shop. There’s something for everyone on there, you can search by description, brand filter by size location ANYTHING!

What’s great is I love styles by brands such as White Fox Boutique based in Australia or Stylewalker but don’t want to contribute to clothes been shipped across the globe. However if it’s already here in the UK and up for grabs I’m not going to say no…

Need to make a little extra cash… Anyone can sell on Depop and its more specialist than eBay so your clothes are more likely to go to a loving home.

Remember one human’s trash is another human’s gold.

Feeling generous why not give your clothes to your friends or hold a clothes swap.

I’ve saved some of my favourite pieces from friends having a sort out:

Other ways to be stylishly sustainable …

🖤Got a night out… don’t buy next day delivery and return next week for a full refund. Send out a WhatsApp message to your most stylish friends and see what they’ve got to offer.

🖤Mix & match… get creative with it. I’ve gone out so many times and my girlfriends will compliment my top, guess what. That top is actually a dress you’ve seen before with a skirt on the bottom or rolled up and trousers over the top. Who’d have thought.

🖤Need something in a hurry? Raid your significant others wardrobe or your roommates, hell even your parents wardrobe if you have to. My mom has some weird and wonderful things in the depths of her wardrobe official 80’s & 90’s. But my personal favourite and I know so many of you are with me on this… my boyfriends denim jacket. Thank you Jordan!!!

Speaking of who..here’s my boyfriends No.1 advice, (don’t tell him I said this but he is really stylish) ‘buy timeless pieces.’ There are things that just don’t go out of fashion, the denim jacket, a leather jacket, a good pair of jeans and every woman’s favourite the little black dress. All of these can be accessorised to look completely different.

And my No.1 piece of advice… have fun, get creative and let your personality shine.

So there it is 30 days of #secondhandseptember

What sustainable change are you making this month?

Love,

Tee

PS: as always nothing in this post was sponsored and all opinions are that of my own.

Why your skin deserves healthy fats post swim.

Published on September 4, 2019 by realiTEELeave a comment

So for my birthday last week my cousin brought me this really cute fun t-shirt that lets everyone know my favourite food!

I honestly don’t need an excuse to eat avocados. At any given opportunity I’m ordering them (my order usually goes something like this… can I get x no cheese with avocado thanks 😊)

I probably eat avocado at least 5 times a week. You know when people say if you were on a island and only had one meal for the rest of your life what would it be… EGGS & AVO! Every time…. Call me basic if you like but I’m obsessed.

Although I was obsessed way before it became trendy as I loved guacamole and always got my mom to ask for it on the side of her dish so I could get extra when we went for Mexican food!

Anyway these days there are more than enough articles that encourage you to consume ‘healthy fats’ and avoid going fat free!

We all know by now that we need to be consuming good, healthy unsaturated fats found in nuts, avocado, olive oils etc…

Main benefits of these foods;

• Reduce sugar cravings (honestly I grew up thinking I have a sweet tooth however that’s changed with my diet, not going to lie I still llloooovvveeee chocolate)

• Increase energy levels

• Keep you fuller for longer

• Lower the risk of heart disease

• Aid the body in absorption of vitamins and minerals

But here’s my favourite thing about healthy fats… they’re amazing for your skin!

One of my all time favourite activities is swimming, it’s something I’ve enjoyed since I was a child, it works the whole body and allows you to completely disconnect. No phone = no social media and no beep beep beep. Just you and your thoughts, it’s perfect thinking time.

Here’s why fatty foods help your skin if you swim:

The effects of chlorine on skin (and hair) can put people off the activity especially if like me you have sensitive skin with conditions such as eczema.

If you fill your diet with radiance-boosting glow enhancing essential fatty foods and omega-3 you’ll nourish your skin from within.

Some of my favourites include:

• Avocado and eggs… did I mention this already?

• Salmon with or without avocado

• Nut butters (I love some nut butter on a rice cracker with a banana and cinnamon)

• Sprinkle of chia seeds.

Eggs avo & salmon

Why you should avoid trans fats; trans fats ( often listed under the names ‘hydrogenated oil’ or ‘hydrogenated vegetable fat’ ), are usually found in many packaged and processed foods. These are known to be extremely toxic AND have no health benefits.

Join the avocado debate… do you love them or hate them?

Comment below.

Love

Tee

Why you should seriously look into Cupping Therapy

Published on September 1, 2019October 5, 2019 by realiTEELeave a comment

Hey there… so i know it’s been a while since my last post, I’ve taken some time at lately but I’m back and getting straight back to it.

When I told my dad last week I was getting cupping you should have seen the weird look on he’s face, I’m pretty sure he thought it was something a daughter shouldn’t disclose to her father if you know what I mean. Cupping is something that has intrigued me for a while, there are so many benefits to this ancient Chinese practice that I couldn’t not give it a go.

So first of all … what is cupping;

Well “Is a form of traditional alternative medicine that can be found in many different cultures in which a local suction is created on the skin. During cupping, glass or plastic cups are suctioned onto the patient to help increase the flow of qi and blood through the body. The practice consists drawing tissue into a cap placed on the targeted area by creating a partial vacuum – either by the heating and subsequent cooling of the air in the cup. A technique of sliding the cups along tight muscle bands works very well to release tension and adhesions within the muscle. Cupping also works to pull stagnation or toxins from the patient through the skin. Cupping on the upper back can be very effective for the treatment of the common cold.” (Via)

There are also different types of cupping so a quick google will tell you there’s wet, dry and fire.

Wet cupping involves puncturing the skin with acupuncture needles first to realise blood.

Here’s what it looks like in action (not me)

I get it looks totally painful and uncomfortable but it has so many benefits;

It can help remove toxins from the body and stimulate the flow of fresh blood (this is actually one of the originally reasons I wanted to try it out as my blood circulation is shockingly poor)

Lymph drainage helps move fluids around the body (and out of your face first thing in a morning but that’s a whole pother blog post…)

Qi – which roughly translated means energy and I have to say following my session I was full of energy and such a productive afternoon at home. I baked cleaned danced and got my ass in the gym (something I’ve been not so great at lately)

Know to help reduce back and muscle pain (people get cupping all over their bodies)

It often works wonders for patients with the flu, colds, coughs, anxiety, red itchy skin conditions (though cups are not applied to inflamed areas), allergies, fevers, aches and myriad other pains.

See benefits are endless and when you consider that it’s no surprise that this is used by Olympic athletes and award winning sport champions such as Andy Murray who uses it in conjunction with other treatments to relieve stiffness and to help address a back injury. More and more athletes are looking at how to stay in the game longer and methods to naturally improve health and performance so it’s no surprise they look to holistic treatments to help them.

What does it feel like at the time… well when the cups were been put on I did flinch a little not because it hurt I just didn’t know where the next one was going (& the cups are quite cold) then once they make contact with your skin you feel it tighten up and then it’s just sort of there. It’s not at all painful and once they were all in place I was so chilled out that the 15 minutes went really quickly.

Sarah the trained professional I went to covered me up with a towel and check on me a couple of times. She did mention that my skin went dark quickly but honestly I’m not surprised I bruise easy.. Even my boyfriend said that straight after.

In short it’s quite a relaxing experience even the vigorous massage at the end to get my blood moving to other parts of my body again.

After effects…I felt soooo much lighter when I stood up. I felt lose and like I could do so much more which is great. If I pull my neck down there is a slight pain due to the bruise but as you can tell that’s by far my worse one. Yes it leaves marks over your the part of your body you had this and how long they last depends on the person from my understanding, I’ll keep you updated with how long mine take to fade.

I would definitely recommend looking into this and if you’re in the Birmingham area check out Harbin Therapies, Sarah was lovely and so honest. She explained things in depth and answer all my questions. Also the woman is a genius, as soon as I was lying down she took one look at my back and knew the exact locations I suffer with pain. Unfortunately for me this is due to a twisted spin (for now) but cupping has definitely relived a lot of the tension in my body and made things a lot easier.

Have you ever had cupping? I want to know your thoughts so comment below.

Love

Tee

AS ALWAYS CONSULT A DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS | IF YOU’RE PREGNANT, AVOID CUPPING.

The simple PM skin & gym bag must haves

Published on August 3, 2019 by realiTEE1 Comment

Hello beautiful! Welcome back to the final post in my mini series of best workouts and skin routines depending on the time of day.

We’ve talked the best of AM, powering through the lunch time run and now winding down on a evening.

It might be tempting to finish a tough day at work with a big glass of red and a relax on the sofa, but if you can squeeze in a workout before you get home, you’ll sleep better and help to restore your muscles after a sedentary day.

Personally in a evening I opt for Pilates or yoga, as it can be a game changer for many people. If I’ve had a long day and need to unwind something like Pilates or yoga really helps me focus on the moment and not reliving my day at work. If you go home and replay your day over and over in your head you’ll relive it emotionally and trigged your stress hormone to go crazy << which causes spots and lack of sleep! There’s no way you can do a Pilates class or hold your yoga positions and still think about work… I’ve found these two classes to be very in the moment. Plus it isn’t too intense and won’t leave you struggling to get to sleep at night.

More importantly when it comes to my evening gym bag here’s what I’m packing:

You know what I’m going to say first right? REMOVE YOUR MAKEUP! I am loving Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm, I literally massage it into my skin (always in a upward motion) and let in sink in while I get changed. Then a quick wipe and everything comes off smoothly. It also leaves your skin feeling hydrated and not dry or tight pre workout and SMELLS AMAZING!

No matter what you decide to do, Pilates, spin, weights or boot camp, don’t wait until your home to cleanse your face. Do it ASAP. I always keep a face cleanser in my gym bag and it doesn’t take long.

Your evening moisturiser is key, because your skin starts regenerating so you want to help give it a boost.

I always use a Vitamin C serum and most nights I’ll use Summer Fridays Jet Lag mask (you only need a pea size amount) but this is because I have such dry skin this really makes a difference, but everyone is different. Which ever moisturiser works for you go with but no matter your skin type you need something.

Oh and I do the above while drinking a peppermint tea which is also great for your skin.

This is a simple and routine but still important. We all know to maintain our cars, teeth, brows & roots but skin is just as important.

Throw on your favourite pjs and get some well beauty sleep!

What’s your PM beauty hero?

Love

Tee

The two products you need for flawless skin post lunch time workout

Published on July 27, 2019August 3, 2019 by realiTEELeave a comment

Welcome back to my mini workout & beauty schedule series. I started with the best morning workouts and how to prep your skin and next up (drum roll please…) the lunch time power hour!

If you follow me on Instagram or read a few of my posts you know I love a lunch time run, it’s a great way to get some fresh air and gives you a boost of energy for getting through the afternoon.

Research’s suggest that a workout midday means you’ll get back to your desk happier and ready for a more productive afternoon. It’s so important to keep your body moving especially if you spend your days sat at a desk. Full body workouts are recommended, boxing seems to be the activity of choice for a lot of people with 30-45 minute classes. This is because it gets your body moving in a multitude of angles and is a great for working through some stuff if you’ve had a stressful morning! << it’s on my list of things to try.

I know it’s a pain and can be daunting to remove your makeup and it’s quicker just to sweat through but trust me here… take it off and your skin will thank you for it. Sweating through layers of makeup is only going to result in uncomfortable red and sensitive blemishes, which ends up needing more makeup to cover up and before you know it it’s the never ending circle of makeup coverage and break outs.

Always carry some makeup remover with you, I’m not a fan of wipes as I think they pull at your skin far too much, but whatever you choice to remove your makeup quickly is better than leaving it on. I am really loving Glov, this on the go cleansing glove, it’s perfect because I just leave it in my gym bag and I’ve always got it with me.

Now you’re ready to kick some ass at your chosen workout!

Once your workout is done cleanse your skin again, you don’t need to make this a look no process or anything fancy. Even just hot water and soap is all you need.

Post-workout I use a mist spray first to help rehydrate my face and because it’s soooo refreshing then Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment I’ve found this really helps to hide signs of fatigue while helping to keep the skin hydrated, don’t be put off by the green colour of the cream it turns beige when it comes into contact with your skin I promise. I wait for this to set in and then use my absolute favourite IT Cosmetics CC cream, honestly I don’t even own a foundation at the moment I just use this all the time. These simple products teamed with Big glass of water will also help skin to stay plump throughout the afternoon.

IT COSMETICS

Don’t forget to head back to your desk and eat something with a carb/protein ratio of about 2-1; it could be a smoothie or a protein bar, but after so much muscle-building you want to make sure you have enough protein to support muscle growth.

BTS: loading my salad up to get me through the afternoon:

Are you a power hour workout warrior?

Love

Tee

How to achieve glowing skin post AM workout

Published on July 20, 2019July 24, 2019 by realiTEELeave a comment

Hey hey hey. You know I’m a girl that’s on the go but looking after herself 24/7 so I’ve put together a mini series for you guys to walk you through what I do throughout the day and WHY.

I’m someone who likes to mix up their routines whether that’s morning noon or evening. I’m generally a morning person and like to get my ass out of bed and moving before I give myself the excuse not to! However I do try and add some structure to what I’m doing at what time of day and consider what my skin and body need post workout to help me be the best version of me. I’ve put together a mini series to share with you over the next couple of weeks to get real specific about what I do when and what is essential to my beauty routine straight after.

Honestly timing is everything when it comes to exercise, when you workout you put your body under pressure and you get your stress hormones going so I like to keep the level of exercise in line with the time of day. For example you may think that if you do a hardcore workout late in the evening you’ll go home and crash out, not necessarily! When you get your heart rate up and the blood pumping mixed with the endorphins it can be stimulating for the brain making it harder to get a good nights rest. I’ve talked about it before, but sleep is one of my beauty ride or dies.

Everyone is different and some people do find it better to workout in an evening or maybe it just fits into your schedule easier, you have to do you here and find your sweet-spot. It will make all the difference but whatever the time of day pack your gym bag with glow-inducing skincare essentials for healthy glowy skin 24/7.

Depending on what kind of day I’ve got planned and whether I’ve made it into the gym or I’m at home depends on whether I’m doing weights or a full body HIIT workout. No matter which one I go with I ALWAYS start with some basic yoga stretches.

When you’ve been lying down for 8 hours you can’t just hop right to it (and you should always warm up anyway). Yoga can be energising and uplifting first thing and helps you wake up your body in a healthy way. Little tip I learnt in one of the many hours I spent reading… lunging with your right leg forward first helps aid your digestion system and that’s good for everyone!

Both HIIT and weights are known for burning calories even after you’ve finished your workout so I love doing these first thing, also more I challenge myself before 7am the more I feel I’ve achieved and it really helps set the tone of my day. I feel like I can do anything!

I know I preach the importance of washing your face but I also know there’s a balance and washing too much is bad for the skin- you don’t want to strip your skin of it’s natural oils.

Pre morning workout I actually don’t do anything apart from brush my teeth and drink green tea and a quick spray of my favourite balancing mist to help wake me up and give my skin a boost of hydration.

Post morning workout skin is where I get serious. Let’s brake it down.

1) Dry brush! Have you heard about dry brushing? I feel like most people have & are on board but if not let me give you a quick summary. I got mine off amazon and it’s a little hand held brush for exfoliating. You use it while your skin is still dry (hence the name dry brushing) then starting at your ankles you work your way up the body in circular motions towards the heart. This not only wakes your body up in a morning but is also amazing for your circulation and lymphatic drainage.

2) Shower. I’ll wash my face in the shower with warm water. Always start with warm water as it opens the pores so you can clean your skin and get any dirt or sweat out of them. Last 30 seconds blast the cold! It’s a great way to wake yourself up and also close your pores. I try not to get cold water on my face as I still want my skincare to sink in.

3) Moisturisers, YOUR WHOLE DAMN BODY! Your skin is an organ and the biggest one you have. It covers all of you and it all needs to be kept hydrated especially if you’ve worked up a pretty decent sweat. By now if I’m at home I’m probably on my second green tea or peppermint if I’m at the gym I’ll be on my second bottle of water. Always looking after my skin inside out.

4) Right clothes on now for the face, from all the podcasts I’ve listened to, all the blog posts, microblogging and books I’ve read there’s one thing I’ve learnt that you can’t ignore. When it comes to applying skincare start with the most water based products and work up the the heavier ones. A toner or serum isn’t going to sink in through an oil so your getting none of the benefits. I go; mist, toner, serum, colour corrector (not everyday but some days it’s a must more than others), Rosehip oil (eyes & forehead only), moisturiser, spf then makeup AND ALWAYS WITH A COLD JADE ROLLER. It’s less complicated then it sounds I promise, & here’s a sneak at what my current layout looks like…

5) Quick restyle and freshen up of the hair, I hardly wash it and try to avoid using heat so my hair is pretty low maintenance 6 days a week and I’m ready to head to work.

By this point I’m probably starting to get a little hungry as well so I’ll grab a pre-made juice or smoothie with added collagen to help boost hydration and keep your skin looking glowy while reducing fine lines and wrinkles from within. The perfect age prevention cocktail.

What’s your favourite AM workout or are you up & out?

Love

Tee

Why you need a beauty roller

Published on July 16, 2019July 19, 2019 by realiTEE1 Comment

They see me rolling, jade rolling.

We’ve all seen them.

Every beauty blogger has one.

They’re the most talked about beauty tool of 2019… but what’s so amazing about them.

It’s an ancient Chinese practice that’s been used for thousands of years to help maintain facial fluid, it rejuvenates the elasticity of skin, repairs your skin cells, fights inflammation, improve circulation, reduce wrinkles, replenish your facial muscles and well it just works!

Still not sold?

Firstly I mentioned jade roller as that’s what I have, but these little tools come in a multitude of stones from jade to rose quartz to amethyst (which I’ve just learnt is known for helping creativity so seriously considering investing in a little something made from this for my desk, anyway…)

I wanted to get into why I think these little things are worth the investment, and also to clarify they’re not big bucks! I’ve seen some for £80+ but don’t know anyone who paid that.. Personally mine was £15 from amazon.

Must do:

• Keep it cool. I keep mine in my fridge, some people keep theirs in little beauty fridges or just somewhere nice and cool. The cool stone on your skin is a great way to A) help depuff your face first thing or reduce any swelling/ water retention and B) stimulates lymphatic drainage. Also around the eyes it feels amazing in a morning.

• ROLL UPWARDS! This helps sculpt your skin and you never want to drag the skin down.

• Always remember the neck, don’t leave your neck out it’s just as important you want to take your routine down to the chest if you can.

I always apply serum to my face first (currently using this amazing vitamin C serum to help boost the brightness of my skin) this also helps lubricate the skin allowing the roller to move smoothly over your skin.

The added bonus is that the stone doesn’t absorb any of the serum just helps to work it into your skin making sure your skin gets all the benefits from your chosen serum.

Why I’m so in love:

• It’s skin care

• Mindcare (I just sit there for a couple of minutes rolling my skin listening to a podcast or just breathing, kinda like meditation)

• It’s selfcare

It’s all of these wrapped into one pretty little tool!

Breakdown of the different rollers:

Rose quartz: this stone is associated with bringing love into your life. I’ve also read that cleopatra bathed with this stone.

Jade: is associated with luck and is considered to bring balance.

Amethyst: as I mentioned this is associated with creativity and is a Kardashian favourite right now.

Which is your favourite?

Love,

Tee